Civil Litigation and Commercial Litigation Lawyers Adelaide
Civil Litigation and Commercial Litigation Lawyers – Adelaide
Dispute Resolution processes that get results
Civil Litigation and Commercial Litigation are broad terms that describe court based processes of resolving disputes under the common law system – which are not related to criminal liability. Litigation is defined by the fact that there are two opposing parties, be they private individuals or businesses, who are in dispute about a set of facts or the application of the law to a particular set of facts.
Some of the common types of civil and commercial proceedings Scammell & Co Solicitors can assist with include:
- commercial disputes over contracts and leases;
- mortgage default claims;
- property disputes;
- negligence claims (for example, personal injury matters);
- claims in relation to deceased estates; and
- insolvency disputes
So how does the litigation process work?
In the common law system, there is a judge who presides over the dispute and the opposing parties bring submissions and evidence in support of their claims to a particular position on the matter before the court. The court can make rulings on what evidence is admissible based on the laws of evidence which is usually derived partly from statute and partly from the common law in relation to what is admissible evidence or otherwise.
Once the judge has heard all evidence in relation to the case, they can then make a determination on the facts of the matter and apply the law in relation to the dispute. Part of the system of litigation also involves the appeals process. If a party is aggrieved by a decision, it may usually make an appeal because the lower court made an error of law. As cases trickle up the chain of appeal courts, they tend to involve matters of more weighty significance in terms of the law. A case in the High Court, for instance can influence the whole direction of a particular area of law.
How can Scammell & Co Solicitors help resolve my dispute?
Whether representing the plaintiff or the defendant in litigation proceedings, a Scammell & Co lawyer manages all stages of the dispute resolution process. These include:
- Investigation
- Pleadings
- Discovery
- Mediation
- Pre-trial motions
- Trial
- Appeal
The number of stages a case reaches depends on the willingness for each side to resolve the matter.
Irrespective of which side of the dispute you find yourself, a Scammell & Co dispute resolution lawyer will support and guide you through the process. This includes:
- providing legal advice and workable options to protect your interests;
- handling negotiations;
- conducting mediation; and if all else fails…
- representing you before a relevant court.
A Scammell & Co litigation lawyer has a comprehensive command of the litigation process, as well as other alternative dispute resolution options. As such, their knowledge and experience will safeguard your rights and help resolve disputes between parties as quickly and amicably as possible to avoid you incurring further losses.
Our professional and experienced Civil Litigation and Commercial Litigation team is ready to assist you…
Graeme Hollidge
A guide to the litigation process
Following is a step-by-step overview of the litigation process. The stages of litigation may vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Also, settlement can occur at any time during the dispute resolution process, even after trial.
Click on the relevant litigation term below for an explanation:
Notice of Action
The Notice sets out what the claim is, for example a claim for money owed or property to be returned. The Notice also states the Plaintiff’s intention to take the matter to court.
The Plaintiff must usually wait from 21 to 90 days after sending the Notice before proceeding to the next step in the litigation process, (step 2 below). Many disputes settle in this time, avoiding the cost and delay of going to court.
Summons / Application
It must be issued out of an appropriate court which has jurisdiction to deal with the matter described in the summons.
It will be addressed to the person against whom the claim is brought. (The Defendant) It will usually be accompanied by a document known as a ‘Statement of Claim’. A statement of claim sets out in some detail why the Plaintiff is bringing the claim and what orders the Plaintiff is asking the court to make.
Service
In some cases the summons must be personally served on the Defendant. In other cases it is sufficient to send it to the Defendant’s address.
Defence / Counterclaim
The statement of claim and the defence when read together enable the court to know what it is that the parties are arguing about, and to have some idea of what evidence will be presented if the matter goes to trial.
Both the statement of claim and the defence are important documents which must be very precisely prepared.
A party would not normally be allowed to present evidence in court that is outside the matters identified in the statement of claim and/or the defence.
If the Defendant does not file a defence then after the time limit (usually 21 days) has elapsed the Plaintiff may ask the court to issue a ‘default’ judgment against the Defendant.
Discovery / Disclosure
This discovery, in many cases, may only be 20 or 30 pages, but in other cases can be thousands of pages.
Interrogatories
Notice to Admit
Directions and Hearings
A matter will not be allowed to go into the trial list until the judge is satisfied that both sides have adequately prepared their evidence for presentation to the court.
Pre-Trial Conference
Listing Conference
For this conference it is necessary to make an estimate of how long the trial will take and to discuss any special arrangements for witnesses that may be coming from interstate or overseas.
Trial
Those matters that do proceed to trial must wait their turn in the court’s trial list which can often mean waiting for many months or even up to a year.
After hearing the evidence of a trial, a judge may give a judgment straight away or may wish to consider the matter further before giving a decision. This can also, on some occasions, result in further delays of several months.
Appeal
Execution
Mediation
Third Party Proceeding
Contribution Notices
Filed Offer
Should the trial proceed and the Plaintiff only get an order for $15,000, the Defendant, in effect, wins the matter on costs because he can say to the court “I was always willing to pay that amount and there was no need to have a trial”. This shifts the costs risk onto the Plaintiff.
Until the trial is over the judge is not aware of the filed offer. Either party can file offers from time to time with differing costs benefits.
Costs
Time Limits
If your claim is for personal injury, the law says that you must begin the litigation process outlined above within three years.
If your claim is under contract or relates to property damage, you usually have six years in which to begin the litigation process outlined above.
If that time has passed, only in exceptional circumstances will the court allow you to enter into litigation to try to recover your claim.